Wings sign prospects Pearce, Pare

DETROIT – The Red Wings today announced that forward Francis Paré and goaltender Jordan Pearce have both been re-signed to two-year contract extensions. As per club policy, no further details on either of these deals will be disclosed. Both players spent last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate club.

In his second full season of professional hockey, Pearce went 20-15-5 with the Griffins in 2010-11 while registering a G.A.A. of 2.89 and a SV% of .908. The 6-foot-1, 201-pounds netminder was originally signed by Detroit as a free agent two years ago after enjoying a standout collegiate career with the University of Notre Dame (CCHA). Pearce led Notre Dame to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Title Game in 2008, the same year he was named CCHA Goaltender of the Year. In his 94 career starts for the Fighting Irish, Pearce earned 59 wins while posting a 1.98 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. The 24-year-old native of Anchorage, Alaska, has since registered a 21-18-5 record in addition to a 3.01 GAA and .904 SV% in 50 career games at the AHL level.

Paré, also 24, was signed by Detroit as a free agent in the spring of 2008 shortly after he was named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player after tallying 54G-48A-102P in 69 games for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. In his three subsequent seasons with Grand Rapids, Paré has recorded 64G-77A-141P in 220 appearances. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound center finished tied for third on the Griffins in scoring in 2010-11 with 24 goals and 30 assists while leading the team in games played (80). A native of Longueuil, Québec, Paré has appeared in 10 Calder Cup playoff games in his career, registering two goals and two assists for the Griffins.